Treatment Services

Learning Disabilities are neurodevelopmental disorders that are typically diagnosed in early school-aged children, although may not be recognized until adulthood. Learning disabilities can impact a person’s ability to learn to read (e.g., difficulty sounding out words, poor reading fluency, or struggles comprehending what they read), write (e.g., spell words accurately, use appropriate sentence structure and grammar, form letters fluently) or understand mathematics (e.g., forget basic math facts, difficulty reading graphs and charts and poor sense of quantity). Learning difficulties are not accounted for by intellectual delays. Children with learning disabilities often struggle to meet expectations in the classroom. Children, adolescents, and young adults with Learning Disabilities can receive accommodations at school, college, or university to assist them with their learning needs.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders affecting children. Symptoms of ADHD include inattention (not being able to keep focus), hyperactivity (excess movement that is not fitting to the setting), and impulsivity (hasty acts that occur at the moment without thought). ADHD is considered a chronic and debilitating disorder and is known to impact the individual in many aspects of their life including academic and professional achievements, interpersonal relationships, and daily functioning.

Giftedness is often identified as an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability. Gifted testing is often necessary for placement in specific academic programming. A gifted assessment is typically administered to children who are at least 8 years of age and in Grade 3 (or older).

All services are charged on an hourly basis for the amount of time required. All costs for therapy and assessments are based on the guideline recommended by the Ontario Psychological Association (OPA). While fees are not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Program (OHIP), all or part of the fees can be covered by your extended health benefit plans.

You do not need a referral from your physician to access services at Royal York Psychology. Adults can refer themselves and parents can refer their child or adolescents.

At Royal York Psychology we accept cash, cheque or e-transfer.

Information shared between you and your therapist is strictly confidential. The staff at Royal York Psychology understands that you value your privacy and we seek to maintain strict standards of confidentiality with respect to client information. Client information is not released to anyone without your written permission, except as required by law in Ontario. We protect your personal information in accordance with the Ontario's Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) is a practical, short-term form of psychotherapy, which has been demonstrated to be effective in treating anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. CBT is based on the concept that our thoughts, feelings and behaviours are interconnected and influence each other. Specifically, how we think about events or situations can impact how we feel and behave. CBT helps us to identify, question and change negative thinking patterns that may be contributing to our emotions.

Mindfulness is about being aware and present in the moment, without judgment.When we are able to be present in situations, we are better able to manage our responses. Mindfulness includes several strategies such as breathing exercises, guided imagery and grounding techniques to help relax the body and mind and reduce stress. Mindfulness has been shown to be useful for anxiety, depression and behaviour regulation issues.

Exposure response prevention therapy (ERP) is a procedure in which one purposely confront objects or situations that prompt distress, while resisting and avoiding compulsive behaviour which often decreases distress. The goal is the break the bond between feelings of anxiety and ritualistic behaviours. ERP is used as a front-line treatment for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and other anxiety disorders.